Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Record Highest Grad Rate In Big 12
11.16.2016 | Athletics, Academic Services
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State student-athletes registered the best graduation rate in the Big 12 Conference in the most-recent data shared by the NCAA.
The Cyclones' single-year Federal Rate (based upon the 2009 cohort) of 75% led the conference and is the second-best mark in school history (dating back to 1995).
In its most recent strategic vision, the Iowa State Athletics Department listed graduating student-athletes at a higher rate than the student body as one of its key metrics. For only the fourth time in the last 22 years, that benchmark was reached (student-athletes 75%, undergraduates 71%).
Additionally, the school recorded its best-ever Graduation Success Rate (GSR) at 82%. The GSR is a measure the NCAA created several years ago to better reflect eligibility and graduation. The mark better accounts for transfers in and out of the university.
Eleven of the school's 14 teams improved or maintained their GSR from last year. Four sports – women's basketball, women's golf, gymnastics and softball – recorded perfect GSR scores. The sports which made the most significant gains in GSR were men's basketball (to 78% with its sixth consecutive year of improvement) and football (to 72%, a gain of 20 points over the last decade).
"It is truly rewarding to see the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches and staff reflected in these graduation measures," Senior Associate AD for Student Services Patrice Feulner said. "Graduating student-athletes is a key component to the Cyclone experience. This accomplishment speaks to the value that our university, athletics administration and student-athletes place on achieving academic excellence."
